World famous concert poster collector David Swartz was recently the subject of a feature article in The New York Times. This article is important for two main reasons.

First, the very fact that The New York Times, the most important newspaper in the world, decided it was relevant to report on vintage concert posters, is very encouraging.

We’ve been reporting extensively about how main stream media has steadily arrived at a newfound respect for the historically important works of art.

Secondly, the advice that Mr. Swartz shares is literally priceless and the product of participating in the marketplace for over three decades.

We recommend that you read this article slowly—TWICE. The key takeaways we get from the article – and from our dealings with Mr. Swartz as both a client and a friend -- are as follows.

First, be passionate. Mr. Swartz achieved incredible, multi-million dollar success because he LOVES the material he collects. In the article, he speaks about “the thrill of the chase.” But at the same time, he is disciplined. If an item doesn’t speak to him, he isn’t interested at ANY price.

Be knowledgeable. Mr Swartz understands that knowledge is king. In the article he calls his hobby “a research game.” He has relentlessly pursued the details, the nuances and the history behind these incredible posters. And he never stops learning.

Think long term. Mr. Swartz is not a here today, gone tomorrow kind of guy. His attention is never diverted. He understands that it takes time for the compounding of his knowledge and the compounding growth of the marketplace to work in his favor. His patience has paid off – BIG TIME.

Lastly, be prepared to act. Every experienced collector in this marketplace has a “David Swartz story” where they were beat out on acquiring an item that he also desired. The article itself speaks of Mr. Swartz’s collecting activities as a “competitive search.” When Mr. Swartz’s patience and knowledge lineup just right, and provide him with an opportunity that he knows, as the article states, is “unique or special”, he is willing to act with incredible speed and decisiveness. He understands that some opportunities can take many years to repeat themselves—if ever. And if they do, it’s inevitably at much higher prices down the road.

The Summer of Love Experience at the deYoung Fine Arts Museum in San Francisco is of major importance to our rapidly growing market! Here's why:

We are still digesting everything we witnessed at the Summer of Love Experience that is on display at the deYoung Fine Arts Museum in San Francisco through August 20, 2017. First, let's talk about the exhibit itself.

The Summer of Love Experience is without a doubt the finest museum exhibition dedicated to the historical importance of 1960's art, music, fashion and politics ever created!

This exhibit is truly breathtaking in it's size, scope, ambitions and unparalleled professionalism. Over the years, we have enthusiastically reported on major museum exhibits that have regularly popped up around the the United States. We have explained that these exhibits bring newfound respect and exposure for the posters that we all lovingly collect and admire. These exhibits have all been hugely important, but this exhibit is 10 times better than any that have come before it.

The Summer of Love Experience runs through August 20, 2017. We HIGHLY recommend that as a reader of this blog, you strongly consider investing the time and money needed to see this with your very own eyes, even if you are from out of town. You will NOT be disappointed and a thorough review of the exhibit can easily take up a couple of hours.

We're pleased to report that while this massive exhibit offers very extensive and highly detailed displays of 1960's fashion, and social and political happenings, it is the concerts and music posters from the 1960's that absolutely take center stage and are THE focal point of the exhibit!

Literally hundreds of 1960's posters are beautifully and respectfully presented. A 4 minute movie shows you how these incredible pieces of history were created. Printing plates and artist's original handwritten instructions to the printer are shown and explained.

An entire section of the exhibit is dedicated to The Trips Festival. You can step into a room and see dozens of people mesmerized by Bill Ham's light show! Obviously, 1960's music is played throughout.

Entire sections are also dedicated to The Human Be-In, The Merry Pranksters, Haight Ashbury snd the bands and artists of the era. One of the most impressive displays was of Victor Moscoso's posters shown under the influence of a color wheel, exactly as they were intended to be viewed. Believe me, you have not truly seen a Moscoso concert poster until you have seen it the way it was intended. Absolutely incredible!

The most important thing. Without a doubt, the thing that impressed us the most about this exhibit was the mind boggling size and enthusiasm of the crowds attending. There was around 1000 people at the exhibit during our 3 hour visit.

A back of the envelope calculation leads us to believe that at the very least, half a million people will see this exhibit during it's 4 months of operation. And it would not surprise us if the total attendance exceeds well over 1 million!

It was so clear during our visit that this era, and it's music, art, fashion, and ideals touched people in a way that todays' modern commercialism and way of life does not. For the few hours you spend at the exhibit, you are transported back to a special moment in time and history. The most tangible link to that era is the music, and the most collectible artifact from that era are the posters.

Over the past 2-3 years, we have seen a steady and growing number of new collectors that are fascinated by the fact that you can get a historically important, museum quality poster, issued in extremely tiny quantities, for far less than the dreck offered at the "Art Gallery" in your local shopping mall.

And even more importantly, these posters currently trade for pennies on the dollar when compared to the finest coins, comic books and baseball cards that routinely bring over $1 million each! It's truly exciting to have a poster in your home that was actually displayed in a museum!

Groundbreaking major museum exhibits like this have the same effect as throwing gasoline on a fire. It's obvious this Summer of Love Experience will generate more new collectors of these posters. But more importantly, the massive success of The Summer of Love Experience will serve as an eye opener for other major museums that are always on the lookout for the best way to attract the general public. You can bet there are many more major museum exhibitions to come!

This virtuous cycle assures that the appreciation for these beautiful and rare works of art will continue to grow with each passing year.

For every action, there is a reaction. Last week we discussed the intense focus on quality, originality and the widespread acceptance of CGC grading. These three developments have greatly influenced the vintage concert poster market in the following ways:

Exponential growth of new customers. During the first half of 2017 we’ve seen a huge influx of collectors that entering this market for the very first time. These are folks that are already active collectors of rare coins, comic books, baseball cards and other popular collectibles. They understand and are familiar with the advantages of third party grading.

These experienced collectors feel confident that they can now acquire vintage concert posters and know they are getting what they bargained for. Time and time again, we’re told that vintage concert posters represent an extraordinary value when compared to more mature collectibles markets that have already “been bid up.”

Widening premiums between grades. Now that CGC is grading concert posters, we are starting to see a widening of values between each individual grade. This should be a surprise to no one. The very purpose of any grading service is to distinguish differences in quality among examples of the same issue. Once these differences are established, common sense dictates values will be differentiated as well.

Record Prices. The influx of experienced collectors from other markets is steadily producing world record prices for the highest graded and finest known examples of various issues. This is simply the result of growing demand and a fixed supply.

The market has greatly increased the number of market participants, and these participants have greatly increased confidence to “pay up” when a special opportunity presents itself. While prices are just beginning to increase, premiums for high grade material continue to be a tiny fraction of what is commanded in every other collectibles market. Really great coins, comic books and baseball cards regularly bring over $1,000,000 each while the very rarest and finest quality vintage concert posters don't six figures at auction. Clearly, this is STILL VERY EARLY days for these wonderful pieces of art.

Huge media attention. In addition to the structural market factors previously discussed, this market is also growing fast due to huge tailwinds generated by the media. The 50th Anniversary of The 1967 Summer of Love has been extensively reported on and celebrated across the country. TV specials, concerts, museum exhibits and other special events commemorating 1967 continue to be enjoyed by literally millions of people around the world.

The triumphant and critically praised 2017 tour of Dead and Company, as well as the recent deaths of Chuck Berry and Greg Allman have also shined a bright light on the UNSURPASSED HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE of vintage rock concert posters. ( Chuck Berry and Allman Brothers posters are experiencing huge demand)

A perfect storm. All of the factors discussed i the past 2 blog posts have created a perfect storm that has been over 50 years in the making. It’s really exciting to be a participant in this marketplace at this unique moment in time. Massive events are being held around the world in appreciation of the historical importance of the music and culture of the late 1960’s.

Vintage rock concert posters are the most tangible and collectible historic artifacts of this era. They are also beautiful, rare and dirt cheap compared to every other collectible. We recommend filling out your collection now, while most issue are still super affordable.

The first half of 2017 is now over and it can safely be said that the market for vintage concert posters is evolving at an exponential rate! Activity and interest is at an all time high fueled by the following developments:

Intense Focus on Quality. One of the signs this market is starting to mature is a heightened focus on state of preservation. Even though quality is the number one value determinate of every other major collectible such as coins, comic books, baseball cards, stamps,etc, this concept is still relatively new among vintage concert poster collectors.

It wasn’t that long ago that mint condition posters brought very little premium compared to damaged examples. Collectors now recognize that the percentage of posters that have survived in mint condition represent a miniscule fraction of what was originally produced.

The competition for these beautiful Gems has really begun to heat up because knowledgeable collectors understand that the premiums commanded in today’s market for mint condition are STILL just a tiny fraction of what is commanded in every other collectible. These collectors believe this situation is temporary-- so the race is on to assemble mint condition collections while prices are still dirt cheap.

Intense Focus on Originality. Up until a few years ago, collectors would think nothing of taking a 100% original concert poster with minor problems and have it “improved” through restoration. This situation has changed drastically and has now also fallen in line with other collectible markets.

Today’s collectors are focused on 100% original posters with no restoration. Most collectors we deal with would rather have a poster that is 100% original and completely “unmessed with”, than have a poster in their collection that has had paper added to fill in pinholes or ink and color added that was not part of the original poster.

The thinking can best be summed up this way: When it comes to restoration, where do you draw the line between owning “the real thing” versus owning something that is “not 100% real’? The answer to this question must be answered by each individual collector for themselves. But collectively, the people and the marketplace have spoken. Today’s collectors are focusing on 100% original posters with no restoration. Values and demand for original posters are growing faster than those of comparable restored examples.

Widespread acceptance of CGC. Independent authentication and grading by CGC is a market development that was inevitable and long overdue. In today’s fast growing market for vintage concert posters, small differences in quality represent large differences in value. This generates an inherent conflict of interest between buyers and sellers that results in several problems. First, the seller, naturally, is incentivized to grade their posters as high as possible in order to sell it for as much as possible. Second, just because the dealer you buy a poster from grades it a certain way, that is no guarantee that anyone else will agree with that grade when the time comes for you to sell. Third, if you have a really superior “finest known” example of a poster you wish to sell, it will be hard to realize the extra value that is inherent in the quality of your item without independent verification. Fourth, if you have a poster you wish to sell that is not CGC graded, no dealer can give you an accurate quote without in person inspection. Lastly, if you are new to a collectible field, you won’t have the expertise or knowledge to determine for yourself whether a poster has been professionally restored or if it the actual printing (or reprint) that it is represented to be.

Psychedelic Art Exchange believes that third party authentication and grading by CGC is a major leap forward for collectors of vintage concert posters and handbills. CGC is an internationally recognized leader in third party authentication and grading of collectibles. They have graded literally BILLIONS OF DOLLARS of rare coins, comic books and rare currency over the past 20+ years.

We have made the decision that if a poster is eligible for CGC grading, we will ALWAYS have it submitted to CGC before it is offered for sale.(Unless the poster is of negligible value under $100) Why? The answer is really simple. We want to be on “the same side of the table” as our loyal and highly valued clients. And we want to offer a safe and secure platform for collectors to CONFIDENTLY buy and sell. In other words, we believe that by doing what’s in the best long term interests of our clients, we are actually doing what is in the best long term interest for our company and the marketplace as a whole. It’s an old fashioned idea that often gets lost in today’s fast paced world.

Currently, CGC grades all of the posters featured in The Art of Rock by Paul Grushkin, (subject to size constraints), and all of the posters in The Collector’s Guide to Psychedelic Rock Concerts Posters, Postcards and Handbills, 1965-1973 by Eric King. (Again,subject to some limited size constraints). Mr.King’s encyclopedic Guide features the entire concert poster series from the Family Dog Avalon Ballroom, Bill Graham Fillmore Auditorium, Grande Ballroom, Neon Rose and Vulcan Gas. CGC has announced that in the future they will continue to expand the universe of posters eligible for their service.

If a poster is not currently eligible for CGC grading, we will offer it in a PAE certified package similiar to CGC, as we have for the past 10 years. Every PAE certified item is backed IN WRITING by a Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity and Grade. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s the strongest guarantee available anywhere in the world and it’s a guarantee that has earned us a loyal clientele around the world before CGC grading was introduced.

One final note. CGC grading is a new market development and just a tiny fraction of the posters that have survived the past 50 years have been CGC graded and authenticated. Just because a poster does not have CGC grading does NOT mean there is anything wrong with it. Like all collectibles, it’s simply a matter of the condition you receive and the price that you pay.

Are you knowledgeable enough to tell an Original First Printing from a reprint? Are you experienced enough to detect expert restoration that can be almost impossible to detect? Are you confident enough to “pay up” for a high condition example based on the opinion of the person selling it to you? Do you know collectors that will pay YOU top dollar for your collection based on solely on your opinion? Certainly, we know many experienced and sophisticated collectors that are regular readers of this blog that can answer “Yes” to these questions.

But the great majority of today’s market participants would be better served, for all of the reasons outlined above, to stick with posters that have been independently authenticated and graded by CGC. Third party grading is the defacto standard in every other collectibles market, and the numerous advantages are now readily available to any collector of vintage concert posters that seeks them out.

Who is doing the buying, and why?

This Jefferson Airplane/Jimi Hendrix (BG-69) Fillmore Concert Postcard CGC graded 9.8 sold for a record $357 in our auction earlier this year!

The collectibles marketplace is buzzing with the news of greatly increased activity and record prices that are being recorded for Vintage 1960’s Concert Posters that have been independently authenticated and graded by CGC.

This blog will examine who is buying these posters and handbills and why ......

Psychedelic Art Exchange has seen a huge influx of new collectors that are entering the market. These collectors are already knowledgeable and familiar with CGC and independent third party authentication and grading.

CGC has graded literally BILLIONS of dollars worth rare coins, comic books and paper money. There services are so ubiquitous, that NO SERIOUS AUCTIONS are held for the aforementioned collectibles without third party authentication and grading!

After all, why would a buyer want to “take the sellers word for it” when it comes to condition, especially when small differences in condition can mean such huge differences in value?

This beautiful Monterey International Pop Festival Concert poster CGC graded 9.6 sold for a record $4611 in our auction 2/17.

However, for collectors of Vintage Concert Posters, the advantages of third party authentication go way beyond this basic leveling of the playing field of buyers versus sellers.

First, Vintage Concert Posters have been can be broken up into two main categories, Original Printings that were produced before the concert, and Reprints that were released after the concert.

The differences in value between Original Printings and Reprints can be huge, but the differences in determining a Reprint from an Original can be miniscule.

CGC authentication solves this problem and allows the new collector to acquire these beautiful pieces of art with confidence, knowing they are getting exactly what they pay for.

Secondly, there is the matter of restoration.

In every collectibles market, a premium is placed on Originality. Many Vintage Concert posters have been expertly restored to “look Mint” and this restoration can be hard for the begging collector to detect. CGC solves this problem too.

This beautiful Doors Concert postcard (FD-D-18) CGC graded 9.8 sold for a record $241 in our recent auction.

The bottom line is that CGC has broken down the barriers and removed obstacles that have prevented new collectors from entering this exciting field.

These new collectors already understand how quality and rarity effects value. They understand these posters are historically important. They understand these posters were ssued in numbers of just hundreds or a few thousand, compared to the millions of coins, comic books and baseball cards that are regularly produced for just a single issue.They understand that paper is fragile and that a tiny percentage of the original issuance still survive today, 50 years after they were released. They understand that the premiums commanded for the very best quality pieces are incredibly small compared to other collectibles. They understand how to research and buy collectibles over the internet and at auction.

Most importantly, these new collectors understand that with independent, third party grading, they can use their skills and knowledge to participate in what many are calling the most exciting collectibles opportunity in the world today.They understand they can acquire a large, World Class collection for a fraction of just one major rarity in other collectible markets.

This influx of new collectors is now eagerly snapping up whatever CGC graded concert posters and handbills that become available. This growing demand is overwhelming the tiny available supply. And that's why prices are moving up at this time.

Stay tuned for future blog posts that will examine exactly which Vintage Concert posters these new collectors are targeting for acquisition.

How to find out what your vintage concert posters and handbills are really worth.

Every day we receive calls from around the world, asking us what their vintage concert posters and handbills are worth. There are many different answers to this question, depending on the actual information the collector is seeking. Let’s start at the beginning.

First, it must be understood that with every collectible, condition is a major determinant of value. The same exact poster can be worth wildly different amounts. A rare poster that is heavily beat up, with multiple tears, tack holes and paper missing can be worth $1,000, while the same issue could be worth $10,000, if it is in flawless museum quality condition.

This situation becomes even more complicated at the higher end of the quality spectrum. A very rare poster that has just one tiny flaw such a single pinhole, or ¼ inch tear, could be worth $3,000, while the same issue without that single tiny flaw can be worth $10,000.

This means that ALL vintage concert posters and handbills have to be inspected in person, by a trained expert, in order to get a meaningful valuation.

Secondly, there are several different valuations that can be ascertained. First, there is “Book Value”, which can be determined by past sales data. Book Value tells the collector what the poster has traded for in the past. This number can be a guide for the collector, but Book Value still has it’s limitations.

For example, if a poster sells at auction for $2,000, the collector must understand that there are fees involved in selling. The consigner of the poster would have received $1500-$1600 for the poster, after having waited several weeks or months for the auction to be conducted, and for the money to be collected. While this is not that big of a deal when it comes to one single poster, the deduction of these selling fees can really add up when you are talking about a large collection of many items.

Also, the $2,000 gross number pertains to a sale that has already happened at a specific date and time in the past. Like any market, conditions are fluid and this same poster, if put back on the market, could bring $1500 next time…or $2500.

The point is, while past auction data provides an excellent base of information for valuation, it does not tell the collector what they can definitely receive for their posters right now, TODAY.

The second type of valuation is often referred to as an “Insurance Appraisal or Valuation”. This type of valuation refers to what it would cost to replace a vintage concert poster if it was lost or stolen.

An Insurance Appraisal has the same challenges a Book Value appraisal, only in reverse. Just because a poster in your collection brought $2,000 in a past auction, that in no way means it can be replaced for that amount. In many cases, vintage concert posters and handbills are so rare, that it can be several years before another one becomes available for purchase, in equal condition. It’s anyone’s guess when, where and for how much that poster would cost you to replace!

Even more complicated are unique, one of a kind rarities. These pieces are literally priceless, as they only trade when a willing seller and a willing buyer agree amongst themselves on the valuation of the item. This value will be determined based on those two people’s collective knowledge and needs—and very little else!

Lastly, there is the notion of “Real World Market Value” of concert posters and handbills. This is the value that most of the callers we receive are interested in determining. “Real World Market Value” is the actual amount of cash that a poster can be sold for RIGHT NOW.

This is not a theoretical number, or past sale of another poster, but the actual amount that poster can be sold for TODAY. It is also, not surprisingly, the number most important to the majority of callers we hear from on a daily basis.

Psychedelic Art Exchange is pleased to provide all collectors with a totally FREE, Real World Market Valuation of each and every vintage concert poster and handbill in their collection. Even more exciting, we guarantee that you will receive your Valuation in 24 hours!

Here’s how it works:

Contact us and request your free appraisal. We will ARRANGE AND PAY ALL SHIPPING COSTS to have your posters sent to our Gallery in Baltimore, Md. Of course, if you are in the mid-atlantic region, you may also arrange to visit us in person.

We will inspect the condition of your material and guarantee to provide you with a Real Market Valuation of your vintage concert posters and handbills within 24 hours of receipt. Please understand, this will not be a theoretical valuation or guess. It will be the actual amount you can turn your posters into cash, IMMEDIATELY. If you are looking to sell, this is the only number that really matters.

The valuation you receive will be based on our 75 years of collectibles experience combined with the extensive “Want Lists” of our worldwide clientele and the current market price on the very day we receive your posters. If you wish to sell your collection based on your valuation, you will receive funds that will be Fedexed or wired to you the very same day....again, GUARANTEED! If you don't wish to sell, we guarantee to return your items to you the SAME DAY, by Fedex AT OUR COST.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the most generous offer available in collectible's market today. We will provide you with a detailed, full appraisal of your vintage concert posters and handbills, ABSOLUTLEY FREE. We will also pay your shipping costs, BOTH WAYS. And we guarantee to do all this in 24 hours!

Why do we do this?

Because the tiny supply of surviving Vintage Concert Posters does not come close to meeting the current demands of our clientele. We are in constant need of quality material, and finding sellers of these posters is FAR more challenging for us than finding buyers.So it makes good business sense for us and it makes good business sense for you, if you want to find out what your collection is really worth.

So don't delay, contacts us TODAY to receive a FREE real market valuation of your vintage concert posters and handbills. You have everything to gain and absolutely nothing to lose!

Selling your vintage concert posters through public auction is often a great way to turn your posters into cash!

Use our auctions to turn your vintage concert posters into cash!

Let's examine both the positive and negative aspects of selling through auction, and then we’ll show you how to get your vintage concert posters in front of scores of hungry bidders.

First, make no mistake about it, there are both positives and negatives to choosing the auction route when it comes time to sell your vintage concert posters. The main negatives to auction sales are as follows:

1) Auction sales take substantial time to plan, conduct, and collect the funds from winning bidders. Typically, you will consign your material to a sale 45 days before the auction is conducted. Our auctions usually run for 7 days. You receive your proceeds 21 days after the auction closes. This means, that on average, you should expect to receive your funds 7-8 weeks after you have consigned your material to auction. Clearly, this is a huge negative compared to receiving immediate payment through a private sale.

2) Auction sales, by definition, require you to relinquish control over how much you receive for your posters. As the old saying says, you have to be willing to take risks to get rewards. We have hundreds of success stories where collectors receive more than they expected for their material at auction. But there has also been are collectors that didn’t receive the results they expected. There are many reasons this is reality, a reality that is often shielded from view by auction companies hungry for consignments.

In any given auction, your material may not be as good as other lots that are competing for collector’s attention, the stock market could have taken a dump, or some other news event could temper bidder’s enthusiasm. If you have a firm number in mind of what you MUST get for your poster(s), then auction is probably not right for you.

3) Auctions involve fees that can bring the total amount realized below expectations. Let’s say that you believe market value of your poster is $1,000. The poster comes up for auction and the final bid price is $1000.00. After you deduct a 10% seller’s fee, you receive $900.00, failing to meet you expectations after waiting several weeks.

Inexperienced collectors will often counter this argument by requesting that their material be sold with reserves. While reserves are clearly an option that can be pursued, it is often counter productive. The reason for this is simple:

Collectors enter an auction excited with the possibility that they may be able to snap up a bargain. Once bidding commences, these same bargain hunters often catch “auction fever” and bid more than current market prices in an attempt to win the object of their desire. This is referred to as a "bidding war".

If you are selling your poster with a reserve price, you are telling collectors there will be no bargain here, so your poster will most likely won’t even be considered to be bid upon. This is the exact opposite situation of what you are hoping the auction creates.

4) Despite these negatives, auctions can be a highly rewarding way to sell your vintage concert posters for top dollar! If you don’t know exactly what your posters are worth, there is no better way to find out than letting “the market decide”. If you have special material that is rarely seen, then auctions can provide a competitive environment filled with hungry bidders These bidders will pay top dollar for the right to be the next owner of your rarities. In every auction there are lots that bring far more than anticipated and if you are the lucky consigner these lots could be yours!

The bottom line is that consigning your vintage concert posters to auction is a highly viable and very popular way to sell, as long as you enter the arena with your eyes wide open to both the risks and rewards.

Psychedelic Art Exchange has a large, international clientele that enjoys and enthusiastically participates in the auctions we conduct each month. We stand ready to individually analyze each and every poster in your collection, and can provide a detailed plan to maximize the amount of money you receive for your collection in the most expeditious way possible.

No matter what you decide, public auction or private sale, you can be confident that your vintage concert poster collection will be handled in the most professional way possible, using all of the expertise we have attained through a combined 75 years of professional dealing in the collectibles industry. If you have vintage concert posters you want to sell, please contact us NOW, to get the absolute highest prices possible!

It's easier than you think to turn your posters into cash!

We guarantee to turn your posters into the most cash possible within 24 hours!

Every day we receive calls and emails from lucky individuals that have Vintage Concert Posters from the 1960’s or 1970’s that are looking to turn their holdings into cash.

These people are basically split into two segments:

1) Collectors that are knowledgeable about what they have accumulated over the years, and

2) those that have found or saved some posters from their youth, and have no idea what the value is of what they own.

In all cases, these prospective sellers want to know, right on the phone or over email, what their posters are worth under current market conditions.Regardless of the circumstances, we provide the exact same advice on how to get the absolute top dollar for their holdings.

First, we explain that the value of any given poster is highly dependent on it’s condition. The exact same poster can be worth $1,000, $2,500 or $7500 depending on it’s state of preservation.

What makes this even more complicated is that as the value of a poster multiplies, the difference in condition that determines these higher values gets smaller and smaller. For example, at the very highest state of preservation, on the very rarest posters, a ¼ inch corner bump on just one corner could be the difference of thousands of dollars!

All of this puts us in a precarious predicament:

If we quote the highest possible price we can possibly pay for their poster, we run a great risk of disappointing the seller when we finally get to inspect the poster in person and it invariably has some some small imperfection or hidden restoration that dramatically lowers it’s value.

If we give the seller a conservative estimate of the value of the poster, based on the average condition a poster is usually found in, we run the great risk of disappointing the prospective seller with a “low ball offer” that does not meet their expectations.

Secondly, we explain that in order to provide a real value of what the poster can be actually sold for at this very moment, we must be able to inspect the poster in person so that we can evaluate it’s condition, whether it is a First Print, reprint, or counterfeit, and whether the poster has undergone restoration.

Fortunately, we have devised a program that quickly, inexpensively, and painlessly deals with all of these issues and immediately turns your posters into cash within 24 hours!!!!

Here’s how it works:

1)Let us know you wish to turn your posters into cash.

2)We will Fedex a shipping container, along with all shipping materials to you that will arrive the next day

3)Ship the poster(s) back to us, AT OUR EXPENSE.

4)We guarantee to give you our highest cash offer the very same day your posters are received.

5)If you accept our offer, we guarantee SAME DAY payment. If you wish to pass on our offer, we guarantee SAME DAY Fedex return of your posters, AT OUR EXPENSE.

THIS MEANS THAT IF YOU HAVE POSTERS YOU WISH TO TURN INTO IMMEDIATE CASH, WE GUARANTEE PAYMENT IN ALL CASES WITHIN 24 HOURS!!! AND WE HANDLE ALL EXPENSES!

Of course, you are also always welcome to bring your posters into our Gallery, located in Baltimore, Maryland.

Fortunately, for us and prospective sellers, our generous offers are accepted over 96% of the time. The reason for this is simple:

1)The tiny supply of surviving Vintage Concert Posters does not come close to meeting current market demand. We are in constant need of quality material, and finding sellers of these posters is FAR more challenging for us than finding buyers.

2)We have a large international clientele that stands ready to pay full market value for whatever we are able to turn up. Because we can turn our inventory almost instantaneously, we can work on very narrow margins and offer prospective the highest prices in the world for virtually and Vintage Concert poster from the 1960’s or 1970’s.

If you wish to immediately get the absolute highest prices for your concert posters, contact us NOW!

Every collector should be aware of this lucrative short term opportunity to acquire certain Vintage Concert Posters at a significant discount.

The famous Aoxomoxoa concert poster is just one of hundreds that are too large to be currently submitted to CGC for third party grading and authentication

It is now common knowledge in the collecting world that the marketplace for Vintage Concert Posters has received a huge injection of interest and new participants with the introduction of independent third party grading and authentication by CGC.

CGC is the very same organization that has graded literally billions of dollars of rare coins, paper money and comic books over the past 30 years.

CGC has changed many of the market dynamics, many of which have been examined recently in past articles on this blog. These changing dynamics include an increased focus on quality and originality (posters that have not been altered through restoration), and a commensurate increase in values for the same.

Today, we wish to make you aware of a brand new opportunity that involves acquiring posters that have NOT been graded by CGC, an opportunity that is quite lucrative and won’t last for very long.

Currently, the list of posters that CGC authenticates and grades is relatively limited. First and foremost, there is a size limitation of 15”x 23” or smaller. This is the largest size poster that CGC can currently fit into their airtight, archival holders.

Secondly, there are category limitations. CGC currently grades the following posters: The BG Fillmore Series, the FD Family Dog series, Grande ballroom posters, and posters that appear in The Art of Rock. While these posters represent a large group of the entire universe, there is still a huge number of posters that CGC does not grade including many very desirable and classic images and series.

Some of the posters that CGC does NOT currently grade include: the oversized Fillmore issues, the Kaleidoscope series, the Vulcan Gas Series, The Rock Garden Series, The Grateful Dead Translucent poster, the Aoxomoxoa and Hawaiian Aoxomoxoa posters the Beatles Candlestick poster,the original Acid Test Poster, The Vanessa Grande poster, the Trip or Freak poster, and hundreds of other rare and desirable posters.

Good News for Collectors of Vintage Concert Posters!

We have just received notification from CGC that a larger holder is under development and will be introduced this year. This is obviously great news for collectors that wish to collect posters that are not currently graded by CGC, but want the confidence that third party grading and authentication offers.

More importantly, this announcement represents a major opportunity for the savvy collector that has the wherewithal to act when they understand what is going on around them. Let me explain:

As early as spring, 2009, we have implored collectors to acquire 100% original posters with no restoration, in the highest possible condition they could locate and afford. You can review past issues of our blog, and see dozens of articles on this yourself.

Our prescient advice is a matter of public record. Some of the first posts on this subject can be found here:

Our logic was simple. In other collectibles, the very best condition examples ALWAYS trade for 25x, 50x, or 100X the cost of a run of the mill example. At that time, you could buy the very best condition pieces for a small premium of 25-50%. We knew this was a situation that could not and would not continue. We also mentioned that it was only a matter of time before third party authentication and grading would revolutionize this marketplace.

Those collectors that have acted our advice, are very happy today. They have built collections comprised of posters that are a) much harder to find today, b)more expensive to acquire today.

We believe the same opportunity is presenting itself all over again right now! A huge variety of Vintage Concert Posters can be now acquired for significantly less than they will probably bring once they are eligible for CGC grading.

Only this time, the timing and payoff for the opportunity is much more certain. CGC grading is now a reality, more posters will become eligible for CGC grading in the coming months, and we have already seen prices rise for posters that have been graded by CGC! (Although current premiums for CGC posters of 1.5x-2x compared to non CGC posters, are still incredibly tiny compared to all other collectbles. Where you can expect to pay 10-20x or much more for the finest condition examples).

So our advice at this time is clear – and urgent. It’s absolutely okay to pursue posters that have NOT been graded by CGC. Buy the highest quality condition posters you can locate and afford now, before they become eligible for CGC grading in the coming months. Just make sure authenticity is guaranteed and that there is no undisclosed restoration.

If you follow this advice, and the past is any guide, you will be rewarded with the ownership of a poster, or collection of posters that could cost a lot more to acquire in the future!

We are delighted to report that the 2017 Vintage Concert Poster media blitz we predicted is starting immediately with the wildly popular PBS show!

We have been predicting for quite some time that the Vintage Concert Poster Market would be receiving unprecedented worldwide exposure in 2017. This publicity will be generated by the world’s celebration of the 50th Anniversary of The Summer of Love and the 50th Anniversary Celebration and Concert of The Monterey International Pop Music Festival. Concurrent with these events will be the continued proliferation of major museum exhibitions around the world.

We were delighted to find out that the 2017 media blitz is starting immediately with the wildly popular PBS show Antiques Roadshow. The feature story of the season premier, which will first air on January 2nd, 2017, will be about a woman who inherits a collection of Vintage Concert Posters from her brother that was assembled in the 1960’s. The woman is thrilled to find out that the posters are of tremendous value, worth tens of thousands of dollars.

This type of national exposure is great for our hobby in two ways. First, it informs collectors that these posters are highly sought after and should be looked at with great respect. The story will certainly catch the eye of music lovers and collectors that did not even realize that this collectible exist. Secondly, it will alert other prospective sellers that what they have had sitting in their attic all these years should no longer be ignored –values are real so consider selling! The bottom line is that increased exposure of Vintage Concert Posters can only help bring more buyers and sellers into our unique little corner of the collectibles world.

2016 was an exciting year for Vintage Concert Posters and the people that collect them. Let’s review the trends and events that have impacted this marketplace over the past 12 months:

1)Major Museum Exhibits

One of the most exciting developments in 2016 has been the proliferation of major museum exhibits around the world featuring Vintage Concert Posters. This is exciting on many levels. First, major museums would have ZERO interest in staging these types of exhibits if there was not an interest and appeal by the general public. The fact that these museums stage these exhibits tells you that the mainstream interest in our beloved concert posters is immense.

Secondly, these major museum exhibits have the effect of creating a huge amount of additional interest and exposure for these artworks. Literally millions of people are being educated and exposed to vintage concert posters that would not have otherwise known about them. This speaks volumes about the future health and interest in our hobby going forward.

Lastly, when major museums are constantly promoting Vintage Concert posters, they are implicitly providing an imprimatur on the quality of the artwork and the historical importance of them. Knowledgeable collectors understand the major importance of this type of endorsement—it cannot be bought, it can only be earned, and it makes Vintage Concert Posters 100 times more appealing to collect and display for oneself.

2)Third Party CGC Grading

2016 is the year that independent third party authentication and grading of Vintage Concert Posters really started to flourish. CGC, the same organization that grades rare coins, paper money and comic books has become popular among collectors that are looking for an independent, unbiased opinion of what they are acquiring. CGC has become particularly popular with high grade material and for posters and handbills that have been frequently bootlegged and pirated.

3)New Market Players

The result of major museum exposure combined with the availability third party authentication and grading has led to a large influx of new collectors into the marketplace. Collectors of most other collectibles are used to third party grading and understand the opportunity it presents. Now, someone that is just getting started, who is interested in these posters, can collect with confidence, knowing that they are getting exactly what they paid for.

4) Record Prices

When you combine numbers 1,2, and 3 above, with a fixed and dwindling supply, you get record prices. To be sure, 2016 saw an increase in values as a larger number of collectors were chasing a constantly diminishing supply.

5) Focus on Quality and Originality

By definition, third party grading differentiates the quality of one poster to another by assigning each poster a numerical grade. Before CGC, posters were described as either damaged or undamaged. Now posters are graded on a 10 point scale, in .1 increments. In addition, there has been a huge focus among many collectors on originality. This again, is a carryover from what is going on in other collectibles. There is a huge appeal to owning “the real thing”, not some doctored up Frankenstein piece that is part Vintage and part Modern. If all you want is something that looks cool and is undamaged, it’s far easier and less expensive to buy a Second or Third printing.

With the launch of our new website and blog, we have enabled readers to leave their own comments and observations. We would love to hear your comments about what you see as the important trends going on in today’s marketplace for Vintage Concert Posters. Feel free to join the conversation below!

Last week I had the good fortune of attending the Rolling Stones’ Exhibitionism Museum Exhibit in the West Village of New York City. Exhibitionism opened on November 12, 2016 and will run until March 12, 2017. As a reader of this blog, you are advised to attend this exhibit if at all possible. Here’s why:

Exhibitionism is a band authorized exhibit that features the actual memorabilia saved and owned by the band themselves. Because of this, the quantity and quality of memorabilia displayed is truly breathtaking.

The exhibit is broken up into several sections. There is an actual full, life sized reproduction of the apartment the band lived in during the early years, before fame struck. Early artifacts include Keith Richards’ diary from 1964. There is a complete section that reproduces, again in full size, their early recording studio. This section features actual recording logs, and handwritten lyrics of every Stones album ever released- INCREDIBLE!

Of course, there is a an entire section devoted to the band’s instruments and another section dedicated to their stage outfits. One of the sections I enjoyed the best was the section devoted to all of the unique, groundbreaking stage designs that have been a trademark of Stones tours since 1975.

There are several other sections as well, , that encompass every other possible facet of the band, such as album cover and logo design, and so much more. When it came to early 1960’s Stones posters and handbills, there was some material, but it was definitely not in abundance.

The tour ends with a fantastic 3D Virtual Reality Concert Experience that puts you right on stage with The Glimmer Twins and at other times front and center “on the floor”, right next to enthusiastic fans dancing in the crowd. For all of us that have read so much about how Virtual Reality is “the next big thing”, this was a really entertaining preview of things to come.

It should be IMPORTANTLY NOTED that the day I attended, the exhibit was VERY WELL ATTENDED. The interest, importance, appeal and appreciation of this era and it’s music continues to grow stronger and louder. When you see hundreds of ordinary folks that have paid good money to see rock and roll memorabilia, it gives you confidence that the posters that we all love and collect will surely be more highly sought after with each passing year.

In addition to the tremendous quantity and quality of memorabilia displayed, the most impressive thing about Exhibitionism is the incredibly professional way the material was presented. I cannot imagine a rock and roll museum exhibit being any nicer. When you add all this together, it’s not hard to understand why Exhibitionism has earned rave reviews from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today.

In addition to these positive critical reviews, I personally know 4 other friends that have also attended Exhibitionism and loved it. So make whatever effort you need in order to attend, you won’t be sorry! If you have attended Exhibitionism, have an opinion about the huge mainstream public interest in this era and music, or just love The Stones, please leave your comments below!

The collectibles market is buzzing with the news of two new world record prices that were hammered down in the past 10 days.

On November 17, 2016, A Superman comic book number 1 that was CGC graded 4.5 was sold for $358,500. We have attached the article with the news which is very important to readers of this blog to read for two reasons.

First, the comic book was CGC graded, the very same service that has now begun authenticating and grading Vintage Concert Posters. Secondly, the attached article clearly states that collectors are paying these record prices for items that are totally original and UNRESTORED. Every high priced comic book is now third party graded by CGC as collectors demand an impartial, third party opinion when they putting to work their hard earned money. How lucky we all are to be here now, on the ground floor of CGC concert posters.

On November 17, 2016 a Mickey Mantle Rookie Baseball Card PSA Graded 8.5 was hammered down for a world record $1,135,250. In this same sale 20 cards exceeded $50,000, all 20 of which were of course third party authenticated and graded by PSA, the leading third party grader and authenticator of cards.

Both World Record sales made NATIONAL NEWS as the widespread interest in TANGIBLE ASSETS continues to grow in this crazy environment that we all now live in. As we have previously reported, many people are more comfortable having their assets in something they can understand and hold in their hands and that is private and confidential. This compares favorably with a blinking number on a computer screen that changes every second and is subject to hacking, legal seizure, etc. In any event, it would be hard to argue that Vintage Concert Posters are ridiculously cheap compared to every other collectible. We continue to advise you to fill in your collection now, because what can’t last forever (bargain basement prices) definitely won’t.

To read about The World Record Mantle card, click here>>To read about The World Record Superman Comic Book (and important info about restoration) , click here>>

With the launch of our new website, the comments function will now work. We hope that if you are a regular reader of this blog, that you will become part of the conversation. Please share your thoughts with us!

It’s been widely reported in this blog that Vintage Concert Posters have been receiving continuous and widespread recognition and exposure at major museum exhibits around the world over the past few years.

This exposure has added a major source of legitimacy to these amazing artworks and has resulted in a huge increase in the number of people that are now collecting these posters.

All of this will be DWARFED by the international exposure that is now, suddenly, just weeks away. Beginning on January 1st, the world will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The Summer of Love. The city of San Francisco is planning a YEAR LONG CELEBRATION, with no less than 3 major museum exhibits, multiple custom tours, and countless musical events.

In addition, on June 16-18, 2017, there will be a 3 day Monterey Pop Festival to commemorate and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Monterey Pop Festival, the first and hugely important commercial rock festival held in The United States.

The Monterey Pop Festival to be held this summer is the culmination of a separate 5 month celebration to be held May- September, 2017 in the City of Monterey!

In addition, there is sure to be major worldwide television, newspaper and magazine coverage of these events, as well as historical retrospectives of the 1967 Summer of Love.

In short, expect for the whole world to have a case of “Sixties Mania”, that is sure to influence the sights, sounds and fashions of the coming year. (We previously reported that Nike released a new shoe with graphics of 1960’s Concert Posters).

We have tirelessly reported on the lollapalooza effects that have taken the market for Vintage Concert posters by storm, 1)Incredible beauty, 2)Extreme Rarity, 3)Ridiculously Cheap Prices, and very critically, 4) Unsurpassed Historical Importance.

How many collectibles can you name that enjoy an entire year of celebration and publicity? All of this is not theoretical, or destined to happen at some indefinite point in the future. It’s all happening NOW and will continue to accelerate the rate of change we are currently seeing in this fast moving and exciting marketplace!

As a reader of this blog, we implore you to use the information you have NOW, while YOU ARE STILL WAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE. Use the coming weeks and months to start or add to your collection while supply is still available and prices are still affordable. You’ll be glad you did!

To learn more about San Francisco’s year long celebration of the 50th Anniversary of The Summer of Love,click here >>

To Learn more about the 2017 Monterey Pop Festival and 5 month Celebration, click here>>

Last week, a major article on certified collectibles took social media by storm and went viral through the collectibles industry. The article reports that our nation’s skyrocketing debt has led to a distrust of our nations currency and the future value of it.

The article says this distrust is encouraging people to turn to tangible assets that can be held in your hand and where the value can be easily understood. There are 3 pictures in the article, 2 of a comic book and one of a baseball card, all of which have been independently graded and authenticated by a third party service. The 2 comic book photos were of a CGC graded comic, the very same service that is now revolutionizing the market for Vintage Concert Posters.

When you read in this article about $3 million comic books and $17 million Ferrari’s, it’s easy to understand why experienced collectors are now entering our marketplace and snapping up the most desirable material they can find, as fast as they can.

It is not lost on the people we deal with that these posters were created in ridiculously low numbers, the vast majority have been thoroughly damaged, and the historical importance of this material is unsurpassed.

All of sudden, this year has sped by and the New Year is staring us right in the face. 2017 will be highlighted by the 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love, and the focus and interest on the posters of this era will enjoy monumental attention. Our advice is to fill the holes in your collection now, while the material is available and can still be acquired for 5-10 cents of what comparable collectibles trade for.

If you are looking to sell posters, this is an excellent time, as demand far exceeds the available supply of top material. Please contact us to review how you can get immediate top prices for your holdings. We will buy your entire collection, we don’t pick and choose.

Whether buying or selling Vintage Concert posters, we look for to helping you achieve your goals!

­­Last Weekend. The Annual TRPS Festival of Rock Posters was held in the Hall of Flowers in Golden gate Park. This event is the primary gathering of dealers, artists and collectors, of vintage and modern concert posters. This is the singe greatest opportunity for collectors to meet with and buy directly from the top poster dealersand get posters signed by the artists . The show is also a perfect opportunity meet like minded collectors

This event is the collective effort of The Rock Poster Collectible Society. TRPS is an all volunteer organization committed to preserve and promote 1960’s concert poster art. The staff for TRPS was gracious and attentive, and their collective effort makes this event possible. It is their mission to create public awareness for this incredible body of work. The efforts of this organization are greatly needed in this ­ever-expanding market. As interest in collectible concert posters continues to surge, it is essential to have an organization that is independent and objective. We have always believed that for this market to grow and attract new buyers there must be a commitment to share accurate and credible information about values and

Obviously, the city of San Francisco is the ideal backdrop for the poster show as it was the original production/distribution point for the majority of these posters. To this day the city still carries the magical qualities that allowed the 1960’s music scene to flourish. The innovators of San Francisco poster art were on hand to sign their masterpieces for hungry fans. Wes Wilson, Mouse, Moscoso, David Singer Mari Tepper, David Byrd, Lee Conklin, Randy Tuten joyfully signing and sharing memories from the day.

The modern poster artists get a lot of attention at the TRPS show as well. Their passionate fans line up for hours to get copies of limited editions and rare variants from their favorite artists. The works of the of EMEK, Chuck Sperry, Marc Spusta, Matt Leunig (to name just a few)were on display and selling briskly.

It was an active day at the PAE table as well. We were delighted to get to meet with customers that we only know from the phone and email and put a face with them. It was great to get feedback from folks we work with all year long. Everyone was gracious and loved the information that we put out in this forum. We also lined up several longtime collectors who will be selling their posters in our auction in the coming year.

The energy in the room was palpable and the interest in the vintage posters is stronger than. The intensified interest in the third party graded material from CGC was a hot topic.

All Said and done, the 2016 Festival of Rock posters was a terrific time, it’s great to meet with all of the people that make this incredible collectible a reality.

Right on the heels of the news about the “ You Say you Want a Revolution- Records and Rebels 1966-1970” exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London comes a major article and online gallery featuring vintage 1960’s concert posters by The Guardian newspaper.

The collection was formed by the late Felix Dennis, a very successful and famous entrepreneur in Great Britain. Dennis is most widely known in the U.S. for his founding and ownership of Maxim magazine. In addition to expanding interest both in print, and online, the posters themselves were on display October 7 and 8 in a gallery in London.

While this continued widespread exposure to these posters is very important, this story is important for two other reasons.

First, anyone associated with this hobby will tell you that there is TREMENDOUS interest in these posters overseas. Icons such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and the Doors are WORLDWIDE legends that transcend borders. This is one of the reasons these posters are more exciting than many collectibles that only enjoy collector appeal within the United States.

Secondly, we can tell you that we have many famous and influential clients that are active collectors of this material. They understand the myriad of reasons why these posters are desirable and they clearly have the financial wherewithal to acquire the finest and most desirable pieces.

What’s most exciting, is that unlike almost all other collectibles, the value of these posters have not yet grown out of reach of “the common man”. You can still acquire a museum quality poster with tremendous historical importance, that exists in tiny quantities for the same price charged for mass produced pieces of crap in every “Art Gallery” in America.

You won’t find the artwork hanging in your friends house’s hanging in any museum, but your Vintage Concert posters are being featured and praised everywhere, all over the world!

We are pleased to report that the hugely popular Bill Graham Rock and Roll Revolution Museum Exhibit has just opened at The National Museum of American Jewish History. The exhibit runs through January 16, 2017.

This is the first appearance of the exhibit on the east coast after wildly enthusiastic crowds on the west coast. As readers of this blog are well aware, we highly encourage everyone east of the Mississippi river to find a way to attend this exhibit. It is a truly thrilling experience to see all of the incredible concert posters, handbills and photographs, and ALSO to see throngs of regular folks enjoying the exhibit as well! In this regard, don't be shy about bringing your non-collector family and friends along for the experience, they are guaranteed to leave happy that they came along, and will have a new found respect for your interests and hobby.

For more details, see our earlier reports about our visits to the Bill Graham Exhibit in both Los Angeles and San Francisco that were published in this blog.

Also, to supercharge your visit and transform it into a truly epic and memorable day, call us for a private visit to our Gallery which is located just 90 minutes south in Baltimore, Md. If you make arrangements in advance, we will roll out the red carpet and make sure you get to see material that cant be seen anywhere else—not even in a museum! And of course, if you have material to sell, our international clientele allows us to offer you the highest cash prices available in the marketplace.

For more details on the Bill Graham Rock and Roll Revolution museum exhibit in Philadelphia, click here:

As readers of this blog know, there are a multitude of reasons why many collectibles experts now believe that 1960’s Vintage Concert Posters represent the most exciting collectibles opportunity in the world today.

It is easy, when analyzing this market, to get seduced by the incredible artwork, the ridiculously cheap prices, the “displayability” and the ultra low supply of museum quality examples.

But none of these factors would be even remotely exciting without another key factor, which is that these posters are truly historically important and represent the most authentic and important artifacts from the most influential decade of the 20th Century!

And that’s exactly what the newly opened exhibition “You Say you Want a Revolution- Records and Rebels 1966-1970” at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London is all about!

The exhibit, which is open now, through February 26th, 2017 focuses on the historical importance of these years. The exhibit encompasses music, fashion, film, architecture, anti war movements, radical militancy, drug culture and the utopian views that burst out of California.

But make no mistake about it, as the title of the exhibition acknowledges, the music of this era (and accompanying posters!) is front and center! As the exhibition program proclaims, “Music is the glue of the late 1960’s”, the start of a global conversation that was handed down from San Francisco.

For all of the readers of this blog, it is so exciting to see yet another MAJOR museum exhibition of our beloved Vintage Concert Posters. The Victoria and Albert Museum bills itself as “The World’s Leading Museum of Art and Design.” It is wonderful that our clientele in Europe, as well as hundreds of thousands of other visitors will be exposed to the incredible artwork and historical importance of this era. There are even reprints of Vintage 1960’s Concert posters for sale in the gift shop!!!

If you are able to attend this exhibit, we highly recommend it. When you see the amazingly rare and beautiful posters hanging in museums, appreciated by throngs of ordinary people, you can easily understand what all the excitement is about in our rapidly evolving hobby. The future is unfolding right before our eyes!

In previous blogs we have discussed there are two different ways that CGC is affecting today’s market for Vintage Rock Concert posters.

One group of effects can be called “First Order Effects”, which are obvious to all onlookers. Specifically, these “First Order” effects include 1) increased media attention, 2) this increased media attention results in a huge increase in NEW collectors that can now collect with confidence. 3) Since this rise in demand is chasing the same small supply, values go up. 4) And since dealers can easily quote buy prices for CGC graded posters sight unseen, liquidity is increased. 5) Also, since third party grading is inherently about distinguishing differences in quality, there is a huge focus on quality.

Not so obvious, are many second order effects of third party CGC grading that will also effect today’s rapidly growing marketplace for these rare artworks. Today, we will examine one second order effect which is INCREASED LIQUIDITY.

Every single day, we receive numerous calls and inquiries from people all over the world that have posters that they wish to sell to us or consign in our auction. The question is always the same, what can you pay for XXXXXX poster. Unless the poster is a famous one of a kind rarity, our answer is always the same, “It depends vastly on the condition and making sure the poster is authentic. If you send us the poster we guarantee to have a cash offer to you in 24 hours. If you accept the offer, (which over 9 out of 10 do) we will send immediate payment. If you don’t wish to accept the offer, we will Fedex your poster back to you immediately.

While most people are agreeable to this format, there are some people that want a concrete on offer on the phone regardless of condition. In this case, the seller hangs up disappointed. The poster winds up back in the attic where it has resided for the last 20+ years. And we don’t get the opportunity to acquire a fresh piece of art that would be savored by our clientele.

If the poster was independently graded and authenticated by CGC, this would never happen. The seller would be able to tell us exactly what they had, and in what condition. And we would be able to make a strong cash offer, sight unseen. We would both “win” and a transaction would be quickly consummated that otherwise wouldn’t take place.

Let’s take another example. Say a collector is looking for a rare piece for many years that is quite expensive. He locates one for sale, but has never done business with the person that has it, and there are no solid guarantees provided in writing. The buyer has a wide range of prices he is willing to pay, based on condition. Because he has never done business with this seller before, he is reluctant to buy the poster because he is not confident about the accuracy of the seller’s grading.

If the poster had been third party authenticated and graded by CGC, this problem would obviously be eliminated. The buyer would know exactly what he is getting and he would not be relying on the seller’s opinion at all.

In conclusion, the introduction of independent third party grading into any collectibles market drastically increases the liquidity of what’s being collected because the number of transactions explodes upward due to the increased ease in both buying and selling. In short, everyone wins!